Reckon: Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is not longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20
This is day three for this great verse. Please take the time and read it over 5 times. If you already have it memorized, take the time to review it in your mind.
‘…and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God…’
We are in the flesh. If you are alive, then you are ‘in the flesh’. Our flesh never lets us forget it. It has desires and wants and lusts and urges. It has passions and it’s own appetite. The flesh is in a constant state of war against the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us. Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
…I live by faith… Are you living by faith? What does this mean? In thinking about the quest for purity and the battle against lust, here are some of my thoughts on living by faith. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb 11:1). I hope for purity. I strive after purity. I hope and am convinced that this struggle will be over one day and I will get a new body that is not my enemy. I believe that I will stand before God some day and be forever HOLY, spotless and blameless. I believe that He is with me and will never leave me. I believe that when I choose to disobey that He is grieved. I believe that when I repent and turn away from my sin, that He forgives me. I believe that since I am alive and breathing that He is not done with me yet. I believe that the blood of Jesus redeems me and gives me new life. I believe that every time that I am tempted that God is there AND has provided a way of escape. I believe that God has a mission for me (and you). I believe that God is working all around me all the time. I believe that angels surround me all the time. I believe that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. I believe that when I am ‘in the Word’ that my soul is strengthened. I believe that when I act on the promises of God, that they are true. I believe that when I cry out to God for deliverance, that He will answer. I believe that when I resist the devil, that he will flee from me. I believe that Jesus speaks to me. I believe that the only reason that I have not been consumed by God’s wrath and anger for my sexual sins is that God is God and I am not; and that He says that it is by his extreme mercy that I am not consumed… I believe that God is foremost merciful and loving. I believe that when I stumble and fall, that God is there, helping me to get up, and cheering for me to get back into the battle…
There is so much to believe. I believe that unless the Lord had been the stay of my hand that I would be dead by now. Unless the Lord had helped me, I would have been consumed by sin and lust, my flesh eaten away by disease. I believe that He has a plan and purpose for me that is NOT DONE yet, but when it is done, that He will take me to be with Him forever. This gives me hope.
What do you believe? How are you living by faith?
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Along with Gal 2:20, Romans 6:5 says- If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
I believe that I am “united” with Christ in his resurrection. I am one with Him. The Holy Spirit lives in me and Christ lives in me. I’m sure I’ll say something wrong here theologically, but here’s what I think that really helps in battle for purity: My body is not only his temple, but my body is his body. He bought it at a price, now he indwells it. When I move my hand, it is also now his hand that moves. When I think a thought, my thought enters into his mindseye. When I feel an emotion, my emotion enters into his emotions. In the context of sexual purity then, when a lustful thought enters my mind and it lingers, I am playing it out for his eyes. When in weakness, I act out on that thought, it is his temple, his body that I abuse, not just my own. Oh, that I would never let a vision of something so unworthy of my Lord pass before his eyes! Oh that I would never abuse the members of his body in mine! And if I do stumble and I turn to him and confess my sin and fall on his mercy, I believe with all of my heart that not even my sacrilege will separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus, my Lord, my master, my Savior! Bless his holy name! Hallelujah! Oh, to live a life worthy of Him. Help me O God, pray for me dear brothers as I pray for you.
Dear AJ
I am so sorry for the slow response. I totally agree with you and your theology. Thank you and bless you and your awesome family.